More GOP Hostage-Taking – Trade Deal Edition

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More GOP Hostage-Taking – Trade Deal Edition
By: Jon Walker Thursday March 10, 2011 11:39 am	Tweet

(image: the|G|™)

The problem with President Obama’s willingness to give into Senate Republican’s “hostage taking” tactics is that it just ends up encouraging them to take more hostages and demand even bigger ransoms.

The most recent hostage taker is Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and his latest hostage is the South Korean free trade deal. From The Hill:

Trade tensions between the White House and Republicans burst into the public on Wednesday as Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) threatened to hold up an agreement with South Korea.

Hatch said President Obama’s highly touted deal with South Korea, which has won support from both parties, the business community and labor groups, will not win consideration from Republicans unless it is paired with more controversial deals with Colombia and Panama.

Personally, given how stupid all three trade deals are, this is one time I would be perfectly happy to see the Republicans shoot the hostage, but I fear Obama will use this as an excuse to make a bad piece of legislation even worse.

From a raw politics perspective, I must grudgingly respect this move my Hatch. Given Obama’s history of terrible negotiation skills in the face of GOP hostage-taking tactics, it just might work–and if it does, it would have the important added political bonus of creating political infighting and bad blood on the left going into the 2012 presidential election.

While the AFL-CIO and other big unions oppose all three deals, the South Korean deal has won support from the United Autoworkers. And while other unions oppose the Korea and Panama pacts, they would see movement on Colombia by the administration as almost an act of war. For years, unions have drawn a line in the sand over Colombia, which they say has not done enough to stop violence against union organizers.

54 Comments

54 Responses to “More GOP Hostage-Taking – Trade Deal Edition”

PhilPerspective March 10th, 2011 at 11:46 am

It’s why I keep telling people you don’t want Obama to speak about the Wisconsin situation. Why do you want him speaking about what matters to working people after the Federal pay freeze? You don’t need his help, and shouldn’t want it.

MayDaze March 10th, 2011 at 1:35 pm

Personally, given how stupid all three trade deals are, this is one time I would be perfectly happy to see the Republicans shoot the hostage…

My first thought was, “good, let Hatch hold the damn thing hostage forever.” but I like your wording more.

Obama’s administration is like Bush’s in that you know things are only going to get worse.

ubetchaiam March 10th, 2011 at 1:47 pm

Jon, instead of us talking about primarying Obama, how about a movement to have him declare he will not run again?

hektor6766 March 10th, 2011 at 4:05 pm

The Great Collaborator. Any vote for Obama is a vote for right-wing regression.

PopeRatzo March 10th, 2011 at 4:06 pm

So, I don’t get it. We should be pissed that ol’ man Hatch is blocking a bill that’s probably bad for America?

I could stand to see all those highly-touted “Free Trade Bills” wiped from history.

eCAHNomics March 10th, 2011 at 4:07 pm

it would have the important added political bonus of creating political infighting and bad blood on the left going into the 2012 presidential election.

Much needed.

PopeRatzo March 10th, 2011 at 4:08 pm

In response to ubetchaiam @ 3

Jon, instead of us talking about primarying Obama, how about a movement to have him declare he will not run again?

How about a movement to make sure that no Republicans appoint any Supreme Court Justices ever again in our lifetime?

It might not be as satisfying as sticking it to Obama, but it might be better for us all in the long run.

Oscar Leroy March 10th, 2011 at 4:08 pm

But Obama promised us there would be no more hostage-taking! ! !

RonD March 10th, 2011 at 4:09 pm

Personally, given how stupid all three trade deals are, this is one time I would be perfectly happy to see the Republicans shoot the hostage

Yes.
Kill ‘em all, and let Orrin sort ‘em out.

(The trade deals, just to be clear.)

Bluetoe2 March 10th, 2011 at 4:20 pm

Obama is a jag-off!

Bluetoe2 March 10th, 2011 at 4:23 pm

In response to hektor6766 @ 4

Voting in Republicans is the best thing that can happen for working and middle class Americans. It’s an opportunity for uniting the people against a tyrannical plutocracy. A vote for Obama is a wasted vote. Everyone by now should recognize he’s nothing more than a preening Trojan Horse. The change people hoped for will not occur at the ballot box but in the streets.

Margaret March 10th, 2011 at 4:45 pm

Leave it to Obama to figure out a way to make a crappy situation even crappier.

KrisAinTX March 10th, 2011 at 4:47 pm

In response to Margaret @ 12

But he’s #Winning!

Phoenix Woman March 10th, 2011 at 4:48 pm

Hell, let Hatch expend time and energy screwing Obama on this. The real Dems left O behind; they’re in Wisconsin and they want nothing to do with the Beltway Bozos.

PeasantParty March 10th, 2011 at 4:48 pm

In response to Bluetoe2 @ 11

Oh, he has brought change alright! It’s the wrong kind and supposedly from a Dem President. Can you believe in that?

I’ve seen it with my own eyes, so yeah it’s change I believe in. Not the change he led us to believe was coming.

PeasantParty March 10th, 2011 at 4:50 pm

In response to Phoenix Woman @ 14

That’s the Twooph! The real Dems are blogging, marching, working at promting “only in the US for products”, etc.

Margaret March 10th, 2011 at 4:53 pm

In response to Bluetoe2 @ 11

Well I’m not voting for any Republicans, nor will I give the Vichycrats any more of my votes. There are alternatives though.

perris March 10th, 2011 at 4:53 pm

The problem with President Obama’s ~~willingness~~ being a party to Senate Republican’s “hostage taking” tactics is that it just ends up encouraging them to take more hostages and demand even bigger ransoms.

that’s not the problem with his “strategy”, that IS his strategy

he has demonstrated through his back door deals that he intends on accomplishing corporate agenda, making believe he wants to fight for something the people want but “compromising” by giving the republicans more then they even bargained for, more then any registered republican president could ever EVER accomplish

we have been had

obama is NOT compromising, this is what he has planned

I am not making a joke, I am not being snarky, he is with no doubt a corporatist, he is with no doubt a trojan horse, he is with no doubt a wolf in sheeps clothing

we are not going to get him to “smarten up” by pointing out “the problem with him giving in”

he is NOT giving in, this is in fact his agenda

sorry to break this news

oh..it’s not news

Margaret March 10th, 2011 at 4:56 pm

Brian Manning now protesting the conditions under which his son is being held.

perris March 10th, 2011 at 4:58 pm

In response to MayDaze @ 2

Obama’s administration is like Bush’s in that you know things are only going to get worse.

I did not believe it could ever be possible, that we would have a president who did more damage then bush to this country and prospects for prosperity among the common man

yet here he is, his name is obama, I can safely say he is worse then bush, he is doing what bush did but without the dem party running defense, he is getting more done against us and our children then bush or any republican could have possibly done

obama

the only president worse then bush

man this is bad

Twain March 10th, 2011 at 4:59 pm

In response to Margaret @ 19

At last !

Margaret March 10th, 2011 at 5:00 pm

In response to Twain @ 21

Just sent the link to the fdl tip line. Maybe they’d like to follow up on it.

thirdpartyplease March 10th, 2011 at 5:01 pm

Progressives/the left need to do something to let Obama know he wont be getting our votes. Right now they are doing nothing. Even on FDL while there has occasionally been talk of a primary challenger or something theres still very much a stockholm syndrome mentality. The feeling that people here will vote for him again to make sure the dems stay in power even though they are worse then the Repubs. Maybe a movement then to simply tell Obama he wont get our votes will wake people up. Doubtful but its something.

one_outer March 10th, 2011 at 5:03 pm

In response to ubetchaiam @ 3

I like this very much. It’s a flag to rally around. One specific demand.

one_outer March 10th, 2011 at 5:04 pm

It’s funny. Once I read this, it seemed like, in retrospect, inevitable all along. Of course they’d try to jam all three through. Why didn’t someone call that? Or did I miss it? Why didn’t I see it?

Twain March 10th, 2011 at 5:04 pm

In response to thirdpartyplease @ 23

I have sent so many e-mails to the WH telling them that and all the reasons why that I’m wary about who might visit my house. I could become a no fly zone or something.

msmolly March 10th, 2011 at 5:07 pm

In response to Margaret @ 22

Margaret, I’ve been stalking you. This morning, in response to my invitation for pups to email me, you replied “incoming” and commented that you’d have to make an FDL folder.

I didn’t get email from you. Did I misunderstand?

Margaret March 10th, 2011 at 5:08 pm

In response to thirdpartyplease @ 23

His bubble is thicker and more opaque even than Bush’ bubble. I thought that even though Obama was a corporatist, at least he would use his eyes and ears instead of his “gut”. I was wrong.

Margaret March 10th, 2011 at 5:08 pm

In response to msmolly @ 27

No, I sent one. Hold on.
Edit: I sent it out and it didn’t come back molly. msmolly (at) gmail, right?

hektor6766 March 10th, 2011 at 5:09 pm

In response to Bluetoe2 @ 11

You completely misunderstand. That is the worst possible misinterpretation of what I am saying. Voting in Republicans or neoDems is destroying the working and middle class in America. They are the plutocratic tyranny. A vote for Obama is a wasted vote precisely for this reason: he is one of them. The only salvation for the working and middle class, for American democracy and human equality in fact, is a vote to the left. I saw your earlier post: the galvanization will be too late, and at too high a price.

msmolly March 10th, 2011 at 5:10 pm

In response to Margaret @ 19

Did I understand correctly that Bradley Manning’s father is (or his parents are) estranged from him and has not visited him since he’s been held?

msmolly March 10th, 2011 at 5:11 pm

In response to Margaret @ 29

Nope you overlooked a couple of letters.

msmollyND at gmail. (ND for Notre Dame)

I wonder why it didn’t come back?

ND doesn’t have to be caps: msmollynd at gmail

Margaret March 10th, 2011 at 5:13 pm

In response to msmolly @ 31

Dunno if they’re estranged. That piece says nothing about it.

marymccurnin March 10th, 2011 at 5:13 pm

In response to Margaret @ 28

He is smarter than Bush but it doesn’t matter cause he is much more blind. Morality has nothing to do with his philosophy. It is the corporate philosophy. You know, that crap line were people say “Corporations have not sense of right and wrong cause they aren’t people”. Or some such nonsense. They really think it lets them off of the hook.

Margaret March 10th, 2011 at 5:14 pm

In response to msmolly @ 32

Ah! Hold on then. Incoming again

Margaret March 10th, 2011 at 5:16 pm

In response to marymccurnin @ 34

Yeah, it’s the same old shit: Corporations deserve all the rights of individuals but none of the responsibilities. Maybe he’s not just related to Cheney…maybe there’s some Clarence Thomas blood in there too.

msmolly March 10th, 2011 at 5:19 pm

In response to Margaret @ 35

Got that one! Too bad there’s no facility at FDL to let us communicate among ourselves (hope Ryan’s not reading, he’ll commit hari kiri for sure)

Margaret March 10th, 2011 at 5:21 pm

In response to msmolly @ 37

We can only hope that he doesn’t own a tanto….

msmolly March 10th, 2011 at 5:22 pm

In response to Margaret @ 38

There’s actually a restaurant in CA called Tanto.

Margaret March 10th, 2011 at 5:26 pm

In response to msmolly @ 39

Really? Do people have a last meal and then do seppuku? Talk about messy! And if unsuccessful, then they have to worry about peritonitis…

trademarkdave March 10th, 2011 at 5:26 pm

I really no longer give a flying fuck if that idiot Obama wins or loses in 2012. Either way, there’ll be a Republican asshole in the White House.

Margaret March 10th, 2011 at 5:27 pm

In response to trademarkdave @ 41

Absolutely. “We suck less” is an excuse, not a campaign promise.

msmolly March 10th, 2011 at 5:28 pm

In response to Margaret @ 33

No, I think I had seen that somewhere else awhile ago — that his father (or parents) had not visited him.

msmolly March 10th, 2011 at 5:29 pm

In response to Margaret @ 40

I suspect most of the diners don’t have a clue — to them it’s just a rather scary knife.

Edit: seppuku would sure ruin a perfectly good meal!

Margaret March 10th, 2011 at 5:31 pm

In response to msmolly @ 44

to them it’s just a rather scary knife.

Well, it is that. And if they really wanted to be morbid, they could serve meals on rice paper. ;)

madprogressive March 10th, 2011 at 5:33 pm

“The problem with President Obama’s willingness to give into Senate Republican’s “hostage taking” tactics is that it just ends up encouraging them to take more hostages and demand even bigger ransoms”

I’m going to say this one more time, this isn’t about giving in to the right nor is it about this president trying to prove he’s a compromiser. This is about 2012, PERIOD! This guy continues to sell us this bullshit about being a compromiser with the right to do the best thing for the country, when nothing he’s done “compromising” with the right has done a damn thing to help this country. This is about this guy bending over, and grabbing his ankles so his corporate masters and rich friends can continue metaphorically fuck this nation, and he can rake in the cash to reach the $1 billion he thinks will buy him the white house in 2012. There’s not enough money in the world to convince me this guy is anything more than a left half of the corporate shill, and my vote is no longer for him.

msmolly March 10th, 2011 at 5:34 pm

In response to Margaret @ 45

Ewwww. (and LOL)

RonD March 10th, 2011 at 5:52 pm

seppuku would sure ruin a perfectly good meal!

There is a Monty Python skit here…

marymccurnin March 10th, 2011 at 5:53 pm

In response to RonD @ 48

Always look on the bright side of life, whistle, whistle….

medicinecat March 10th, 2011 at 6:02 pm

So, if Obama doesn’t cave to the Republicans, then they won’t pass the trade deal they’ve been drooling over for years?

More Obama hokum. He’s one of them.

spanishinquisition March 10th, 2011 at 6:27 pm

I reject the frame that Obama is “giving in.” I think this is what he wants.

papau March 10th, 2011 at 6:44 pm

So if Obama likes the Korean deal and since approval of ALL NAFTA based (job losing) trade deals is being demanded by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the panel’s ranking member, who asked that the trade representative’s staff hold immediate technical discussions on legislation implementing the agreements, effectively demanding a start to getting to a vote, are officially with one party government as to giving US jobs away.

Indeed Hatch’s threat at a Wednesday hearing with Kirk to hold up the South Korean deal unless the administration also moves forward with the Colombia and Panama agreements might be a positive – it would be nice if all 3 deals never come to a vote – we lose fewer jobs in that case.

mzchief March 10th, 2011 at 6:50 pm

I’m going to use this opportunity to show that, when it come to North Korea, “Trade Deal,” is at least a misnomer. Please read the excellent post, “They Won’t Even Create Jobs in the Military-Industrial Complex Anymore” (By: emptywheel, Tuesday March 8, 2011, 1:49 pm). Next check out what American tax payer dollar$ are really getting specific to North Korea in “Gulag Nation” (US News and World Report, by Thomas Omestad, June 15, 2003). Here’s a key excerpt from this article:

The camps also generate funds for a cash-strapped regime whose economy has shrunk by about half since 1990. Prisoners mine coal, harvest trees, and manufacture goods for export and domestic consumption–from snake brandy to bicycles. They gather the roots of plants used for traditional medicines, some destined for sale in Japan. The hot pepper sauce from Ahn’s camp at Hoeryong sits on the tables at Pyongyang’s Koryo Hotel, where westerners stay. Ahn likens the camps to Nazi-run Auschwitz. The survivors agree. “It was,” concludes one, Lee Young Kook, “a system to kill us.”

next, here’s Human Rights Watch‘s 2008 assessment of North Korea (the bold is my emphasis):

In North Korea’s Kaesong Industrial Complex, more than 35,000 North Korean workers produce mostly consumer goods for South Korean businesses. The law governing working conditions in the complex falls far short of international standards on freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, gender discrimination and sexual harassment, and hazardous child labor.

North Koreans are also reportedly employed in Bulgaria, China, Iraq, Kuwait, Mongolia, and Russia. In some countries, activists have expressed concern for workers’ basic rights, including efforts by the North Korean government to restrict freedom of movement, expression, and association, the constant presence of “minders” accompanying workers, and indirect salary payments under which large portions of salaries allegedly are recouped by agencies or the North Korean government.

(excerpt from “North Korea: Events of 2008“)

This is extremely well documented and the US Congress and Obama are well aware of these facts. No one deserves to be a slave yet they want to go through with such “trade” agreements? They do not deserve to be our representatives. We need to have representatives that stop this practice inside the US and will not enable or traffic in the products and services of other countries’ industrial prison labor systems either.

captjjyossarian March 11th, 2011 at 6:14 am

In response to perris @ 18